Interesting article on the Economist about the language spoken at airplanes. Here are some excerpts:

“In general, flying is filled with phrases you’ll never hear anywhere else. You must “deplane”, not just leave the airplane. In a theatre you’re asked to switch your mobile phone off; on an American airline you’re told to put all electronic devices “in the off position”, whatever that is. Carry-on suitcases with wheels apparently became“rollerboards” “roll-aboards” in the mouths of the airline staff at some point. Many of the instructions seem replete with extra verbiage: seats and tray tables in “the full uprightand locked position”. Flights that are not just full but completely full.

Finally, one last thing about airlinese: the weird intonation that makes flight attendants stress every auxiliary verb:  “This is a completely full flight, so we do ask you to keep your bags beneath your seats. Federal regulations do prohibit smoking on all flights and you are asked to please not smoke in the lavatories.  All electronic items must now be switched off as we have closed the doors and are preparing to taxi.”  It’s weird. I notice when flight attendants don’t do this, and I appreciate it, because I hear a real human at the other end of the curly wire.

Most professions (including journalism) have insider language that has a social value for its users.  Lawyers, consultants, athletes and others are no different. But anyone dealing with the public (especially when giving them bad news like a ground stop) is well advised to put aside the jargon.  It makes you look not professional, but aloof and clueless about what your customers are going through.

See: The Economist